Integrated Pest Management and Farmer's Field Schools in India

The onset of the green revolution during late 60s’ brought happiness to every one about achieving self sufficiency in food production for evergrowing population of India. The emphasis was on covering more area with high yielding varieties under the high input regime. The low yielding traditional varieties were replaced in a phased manner with high yielding varieties, and traditional pest control methods were disregarded by advocating the use of synthetic chemical pesticides. Large areas were brought under irrigation to increase production. However, this green revolution phase could not sustain food grain production as unforeseen problems started surfacing the agricultural scenario in India. Yields became stagnant, pests developed resistance and resurgence, bioconrrol fauna started depleting and the contamination of environment with chemical pesticides increased manyfold, which resulted in pesticide associated health problems to human beings, animals, birds, fish and other wild life. Scientists, extension workers and policy makers expressed their concern on these aspects of agricultural growth. Keeping in view of the negative aspects of pesticides, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach was introduced on a pilot scale in 1980 in India.